When I'm working on a book, I don't usually get feedback from anyone. Some writers like to work with a critique group, and some share early drafts with their spouse or a good friend. I don't do any of that. I work in complete isolation, sharing drafts with my editor only when I think they're ready for her eyes.
But I wanted to get some feedback about Last Bookstore in America. I'd never written a novel before, and I couldn't quite tell whether it worked or not.
When you paint a painting, you can stand back and look at it, either alone or with a group of friends. You can say, "Do you think my duck looks like a duck, or does it look more like a boat to you?" Your friends can say, "Yeah, I see what you mean. Work on the feathers a little more."
But with a novel, you can't stand back and get one good look at the thing. It takes a week or so to read a novel. When people give feedback, they're mostly telling you about their memory of their experience reading the novel. It's a tricky process, and fraught with peril.
Nonetheless, I decided to share the manuscript with a few friends. This was a new experience for me. People gave good, detailed feedback, and they liked the book more than I thought they would. I found myself begging these people, most of whom were friends of mine, to be very honest and please tell me (kindly, but honestly) if they thought I should put the book in a drawer and move on with my life.
No one did.
So now it's your turn. Read more about how I think writers and readers can work together here. And feel free to post your opinions and comments here. I'm listening.
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